Andrew Albers commits to Utah, again

When it comes to college football, it's safe to say Andrew Albers has come full circle.

Albers, a 6-foot-8, 295-pound standout offensive lineman for Costa Mesa High and Orange Coast College, has accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Utah, where he initially committed out of Costa Mesa.

Albers' father, Frank, announced on Facebook Tuesday night: "So very happy and proud to report that my son Andrew Albers has accepted a scholarship and has committed to play football for the University of Utah Utes. I can't wait to be at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first home game next year."

Andrew Albers received a scholarship offer to play at Fresno State on Tuesday, Frank said, and was planning for a visit to Memphis this weekend. Instead he will report to the Utes on Jan. 5.

He has two years of eligibility remaining and a redshirt year that can be used, but Utah wants Andrew Albers to play right away, Frank said.

Andrew Albers, who was named Orange Coast League Lineman of the Year and was a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection in the fall of 2010, left Costa Mesa early as a senior to train with the Utes as a preferred walk-on in the spring of 2011.

But he left in July of that year because he said he was burned out and he wanted to become a youth pastor. However, later in the fall, he wanted to play football again and he went to Orange Coast College.

After earning second-team All-Southern Conference honors as a sophomore left tackle for the Pirates in 2012, he wanted to take his game to the next level again.

OCC finished 3-7 in 2012, with three losses by a combined seven points.